The ability of corticosteroids to regulate the activity of transcription factors such as nuclear factor of activated T-lymphocytes (NFAT), activator protein 1 (AP-1), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and activating transcription factor (ATF) may vary between the promoter regions of the IL-2 and IFNγ genes, and may be further altered by changes such as chromatin modulation that may occur in response to oxidative stress and inflammation in COPD [23]. Here, IL2 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.